Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned INS Vikrant, the country's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, at the Cochin Shipyard on Friday. He dedicated the ship to Maratha king Chhatrapathi Shivaji.
INS Vikrant is the largest ship ever built in India's maritime history at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore. It is also the first ship designed and built indigenously.
"No matter how difficult the goal is, no matter how big the challenges are, when Bharat decides, no goal is impossible to achieve," said Modi during the commissioning of the ship.
Addressing the public, Modi said, "INS Vikrant is an example of the Government's thrust to making India's defence sector self-reliant. With Vikrant, India joins a select group of nations who can indigenously make aircraft carriers.
Features of INS Vikrant
INS Vikrant is 262 metres long and 62 metres wide. It displaces approximately 43,000 tonnes when fully loaded and has a maximum designed speed of 28 knots with endurance of 7,500 nautical miles.
INS Vikrant has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore. It has state-of-the-art features and can operate air wing consisting of 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets and the domestically manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH).
PM Modi said INS Vikrant is a floating airfield, a floating town and power generated in it can light up 5,000 houses.
Indian Navy new ensign
PM Modi also unveiled the new ensign of the Indian Navy on Friday. He said it marked a departure from "a trace of slavery, a burden of slavery".
"Today on the historic date of September 2, 2022, India has taken off a trace of slavery, a burden of slavery. The Indian Navy has got a new flag from today. Till now the identity of slavery remained on the flag of Indian Navy. But from today onwards, inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the new Navy flag will fly in the sea and in the sky," said Modi.
Of the new ensign, The Indian Navy said: "With the national flag on upper canton and blue octagonal shape encompassing the national emblem sitting atop an anchor depicting steadfastness ans superimposed on a shield with the Navy's motto "Sam No Varunah" in Devnagri. The octagonal shape represents the eight directions symbolising the Indian Navy's multi-directional reach and multi-dimensional operational capability.
"The octagonal shape with twin golden borders draws inspiration from the seal of the great Indian emperor Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj, whose visionary maritime outlook established a credible naval fleet, consisting of 60 fighting ships and approximately 5,000 men."
Until now, the Navy ensign used the British colonial-era St George's Cross, which has now been replace with a Shivaji-inspired seal. The earlier and the current ensign can be seen below.
INS Vikrant a boost to Aatmnirbhar Bharat
The commissioning of INS Vikrant marks a significant step for the Modi government's pitch for self-reliance, especially in strategic sectors. According to a statement by the Indian Navy, the commissioning is a "historical milestone of realisation of nation’s commitment towards Aatma Nirbharta".
"INS Vikrant is not a mere war machine but proof of India's skill and talent. It is special, different," Modi said and highlighted the indigenisation efforts behind the massive ship, including the steel that went into its making.
It is the first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier. Designed by the Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by the Cochin Shipyard, a public sector shipyard, Vikrant has been built with state-of-the-art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in the maritime history of India.
It is the largest warship ever to be built in India and has a large number of indigenous equipment and machinery, whose manufacturing involved major industrial houses in the country as well as over 100 MSMEs.
Modi said every part of INS Vikrant has its own merits, a strength, a development journey of its own. He said it is a symbol of indigenous potential, indigenous resources and indigenous skills. The steel installed in its airbase is also indigenous, developed by DRDO scientists and produced by Indian companies, he said.
After the commissioning, the IAC-1 will be renamed INS Vikrant by way of honouring India's first-ever aircraft carrier of the same name. The illustrious predecessor was India's first aircraft carrier which had played a vital role in the 1971 war.
(With PTI inputs)
